Amendments to the Law will still be viewed by the Saeima.
It is expected that a person living in Latvia who has reached the age of 60 by December 31, 2021 and has completed a full vaccination course by that same date will be able to receive a monthly benefit for a period of five months.
The benefit will also be given to those who completed the full vaccination against the Covid-19 course before the date of entry into force of the draft law, and for those who, due to their health, cannot be vaccinated and have received a medical council opinion on the need to postpone vaccination.
"At a time when additional financial burdens on the substantial increase in electricity prices have emerged from the challenge of the pandemic, it is important to take care of seniors to make it easier to cover their daily costs. (…) I will not hide that this aid will also serve as an incentive to increase the vaccination coverage of a particularly endangered part of the population,” said Welfare Minister Gatis Eglītis.
The State Social Insurance Agency (VSAA) is expected to start paying the 20 euro allowance in December, paying both November and December's benefit at the same time,
In Latvia, there are 527,220 people over 60, of whom 302,884 or 57.45% have got at least one vaccine, while vaccination has been completed by 279,757 persons or 53.06%, according to the National Health Service.
The Ministry of Welfare estimated that the cost of benefits would be around €18.453 million in 2021 and €30.052 million in 2022.
